The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) has been making a concerted push this year to grow sales of Norwegian seafood in China, and according to the council’s latest data, that push has been paying off.
Through October, imports of Norwegian salmon into China reached 98,000 metric tons (MT) in round weight, a growth of 8.6 percent on the same period last year, according to Sigmund Bjorgo, the director of the NSC’s China office.
“Both September and October have been particularly strong months, with 17 percent and 27 percent growth, respectively. My assumption is, therefore, that for the full year, growth will end up around 9 percent,” he told SeafoodSource.
One positive aspect of shipping to the Chinese market, according to Bjorgo, is that most of the salmon Norway sends goes to the foodservice sector, which is less price-sensitive than other industries.
With salmon prices down globally this year, including in China, Bjorgo explained that demand alone is the primary reason for the growth, rather than China just taking advantage of the price.
“Since May, prices have declined and have been relatively stable since. The Chinese market, though, is less price-sensitive than most other markets, as price fluctuations are absorbed in the value chain since most of the market still is in foodservice,” he said. “I, therefore, don’t think the price reduction has been the core driver for the volume growth this year; it’s the underlying demand increase in the market that is the core driver.”
Salmon aside, Norway has had success in shipping other species to China, too.
Total Norwegian seafood exports to China as of the end of November increased 13 percent by volume and 7 percent by value, respectively, according to the NSC.
“It has been a strong year in particular for mackerel this year, which experienced significant declines last year,” Bjorgo said.
In total, Norway shipped 168,960 MT of seafood to China in the first 11 months of 2024, which was up 13 percent year over year.
Mackerel shipments in the period totaled nearly 41,400 MT – up 36 percent year over year. Cod shipments totaled around 13,750 MT – up 4 percent.
The top category by percentage growth, however, was prawns, of which Norway shipped almost 2,200 MT to China, an increase of 290 percent.
“The Chinese market is still growing quite well for the Norwegian seafood industry,” Bjorgo said.
Trade between the two countries have been aided by several factors, including a Nanchang-Oslo air freight service route and a solid long-term outlook for seafood imports into China as domestic demand for seafood grows.
